Taylor Fritz and Iga Swiatek Taste Dramatic Glory At Indian Wells
Indian Wells
March 21, 2022
Taylor Fritz defeated the great Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells and gave America the win it has been waiting for.
A new potential Grand Slam title-winner has been made in the USA!
And that’s great news for world tennis after a period of relative mediocrity among the American men.
Taylor Fritz will now have a huge American following at Wimbledon 2022.
And it’ll be fascinating to see how deep he can go at the All England Club.
Fritz became the first American man to win Indian Wells since the magnificent Andre Agassi in 2001.
Taylor used to be taken to this very special venue in the desert by his father as a child.
They talked about how he might win it one day but he scarcely believed it back then.
Now the ambition has been realised and in considerable style too.
‘This is one of those childhood dreams you never even think will come true,’ he said.
In winning the title, Fritz ended a 20-match unbeaten run from Rafael Nadal in 2022.
Rafa complained of breathing problems and may have strained a muscle in his chest to add to ongoing foot problems.
But Nadal is a warrior and he will surely be back strong for the European summer.
And make no mistake, the Spaniard was still playing to a high level in that second set of a scintillating final.
He should probably have drawn level but missed a simple drive-volley when he held the upper hand.
Fritz didn’t give the favourite another opportunity. And remember he had injury problems of his own with a damaged ankle.
Taylor said: ‘I experienced the worst pain of my life before the match but then during the match it didn’t give me a problem at all.’
Free-flowing Fritz hammered home his advantage to win 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) as Nadal finally wilted.
Epic victories against Kyrgios and Alcaraz had left the 35-year-old with reduced levels of energy and fitness.
But Fritz thoroughly deserved his victory and now the sky is the limit for the 24-year-old with the movie-star looks and sparkling charisma.
Meanwhile Iga Swiatek can’t stop winning and brushed aside Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-4, 6-1 to take the women’s title.
In doing so she became the first female Polish winner and made it back-to-back WTA 1000 events after her previous triumph in Qatar.
That’s eleven straight wins for Swiatek who rises to world number two.
She is also a former Wimbledon Junior champion.
Iga Swiatek will have a great chance of winning Wimbledon 2022 on this kind of form.
The Polish fans will pack into the All England Club and love every moment of her campaign on grass.
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